I just started a job two weeks ago. I haven't done much. Created a UI component. I ran some performance tests and sent an explanation to the team.
I'm not being included in the sprints (we are between sprints, but nothing has been assigned to me yet), I am unclear if that's because I'm a principal or they just forgot about me. There are 17 people in the daily standups but only 5 of us talk.
I don't really want to be a feature grunt (been doing that 25 years), but I'm worried they simply forgot they hired me.
What should I do?
As general advice — as a principal engineer, similar to a staff engineer[0], your role is really to look ahead and solve the next problem. What isn't a huge issue now, but will be in 18 months time? Where are the companies projects moving? Can you predict that they're going to need particular support in the future?
[0] https://staffeng.com/